T H E B E A C O N. Church Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ

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1 First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ T H E B E A C O N A P R I L 1 9, Deadline for the next BEACON is Friday, May 8, 2015 Send entries to beacon@fccucc.org The Church Office is open Monday Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE For those who live without sufficient food, water, shelter, or safety; for veterans and those in active service; for peace and peacemakers; for areas in strife around the world. Prayers for Patrick Miller, at Falmouth by the Sea. Prayers for Maxine Wright, in hospice care at the South Portland Nursing Home; Prayers for Ruth Cline, at New England Rehabilitation Hospital; Prayers for Cecile Harnden, recovering after recent hospitalization; Prayers for the Family of Birger Johnson, as Birger passed away on April 14. L o o k i n g A h e a d i n W o r s h i p April 26 Fourth Sunday of Easter 10:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship with Meetinghouse Choir and Sunday School. Bob Morse will give the message. Fellowship time follows in Wright Pavilion. 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class May 3 Fifth Sunday of Easter Scholarship Sunday with Communion 10:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship with Communion, Meetinghouse Choir and Sunday School. Cindy Maddox will give the message. Fellowship time follows in Wright Pavilion. 11:00 a.m. Congregational Meeting 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class May 10 Sixth Sunday of Easter 10:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship with Meetinghouse Choir, Children s Choir and Sunday School. Cindy Maddox will give the message. Fellowship time follows in Wright Pavilion. May 17 Seventh Sunday of Easter Confirmation Sunday 10:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship with Confirmation, Meetinghouse Choir and Sunday School. Fellowship time follows in Wright Pavilion. 5:00 p.m. Pot Luck Dinner 6:00 p.m. Folk Worship Church Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Phone: Fax: office@fccucc.org

2 CHURCH WORLD SERVICE BLANKET SUNDAY Some 8,000 congregations and groups across the U.S. hold CWS Blankets events, providing funds to help people in need around the world. For over 60 years, CWS has worked in partnership with local communities to identify their needs and access the resources they need to build the foundation for a more viable future, including: Blankets, tents, food and other emergency supplies in the wake of a disaster Tools and seeds for refugees returning home to replant their fields Wells for families living in drought prone areas to provide clean, safe water to drink and to irrigate crops and gardens Literacy training and microcredit for women struggling to realize their potential. Each year our church community celebrates Mother s Day this year on May 10 by donating a special offering to the Church World Service. Each year we ask our funds to be used to purchase blankets that refugees and victims of natural disasters can use to keep warm. As they struggle even in the desert to make it through each night with limited shelter and no access to stable heat sources, CWS blankets may be the only barrier they have against bitter cold. You can make your donation by using Blanket Sunday envelopes located in the pews and at various places around the church, or by check or on-line, noting it is for Blanket Sunday. Please give as you are able and honor all the mothers in your family and your circle of friends. Thank you. ~ The Mission and Outreach Team The Mission Outreach Team is happy to announce the generous donation made to the Easter Offering over $2,100 (and still counting) will be shared equally in support of our church and the Water Project, both providing for our neighbors near and far. COFFEE HOUR THANK YOU to everyone who quickly filled up the spring coffee hour calendar this past Sunday. I think it is a first to have a pair of men volunteer! All that remains to figure out is Mother s Day. I have my fingers crossed that the Eskimos will take command on that Sunday. ~ Elinor Redmond HELP RESTOCK OUR EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY The cupboard is bare and the need for food for some members of our community still exists. The Mission and Outreach Team invites you to make a donation to our own, FCC-UCC Emergency Food Pantry. Paper bags with lists of needed items will be available beginning Sunday, May 3. Please return your bag of donated items on Sunday, May 17. Thank you. THANK YOU Harriet Dawkins was recently treated to a delicious dinner made by Confirmand Elizabeth Peters. Harriet wanted to express her appreciation for the wonderful time she had at dinner with Elizabeth and her mentor Lyndalee Landry. GENTLEMEN, if you wear a dark khaki, double-breasted trench coat, please check that you have the right one at home. Someone has returned a Stafford coat that isn t his, in hopes of receiving back a London Fog coat that is. There is also a men s charcoal wool topcoat on the rack. Page 2

3 STEEPLE DEDICATIONS Our beautiful steeple is a local landmark and celebration of Christianity. It is even more beautiful when it is illuminated in memory or celebration of those we love. For many, many years, the suggested donation to light the steeple has been $25. Beginning July 1, we are increasing the suggested donation to $35 to help defray our maintenance costs. We do have postcards with a picture of our steeple that can be requested when you make a dedication. You can also purchase a postcard for 50 cents. OPEN DISCUSSION As was announced in a previous Beacon article, the Council has been asked to consider allowing, on a case by case basis as approved by the Council, a raffle from time to time. A raffle might occur as part of the Holly Daze Bazaar or other church event. We are planning to have an open discussion on Sunday, May 3, 2015 in Davidson Lounge following the 10:00 a.m. service. Depending on the outcome of this meeting, the topic could be brought before the Annual Meeting for a church vote. Please come and share your thoughts about this idea. If you cannot make the meeting, please be in touch with Peggy Murray (pjmurray@roadrunner.com, ) or Elinor Redmond (eredmond@maine.rr.com, ). We want to hear your thoughts on this topic. a STEEPLE LIGHTING April 5 11: In loving memory of Betsey Berry, from Scott and Family. April 26 May 2: In loving memory of Richard E. Skillin, from daughter Stephanie Ambra and Family. Light the steeple in memory or celebration of a loved one. Contact the Office at , or e- mail office@fccucc.org MEMORIAL/CELEBRATION FLOWERS Remember or celebrate a loved one with flowers on the altar. Please contact Dana Wiggins danawig@gmail.com RUMMAGE SALE The spring Rummage Sale will be held on Saturday, April 25 at 9:00 a.m. SENIOR ACTIVITIES Thursday, April 23 11:30 a.m. meet at church for lunch at Anjon s Restaurant in Scarborough. RSVP by April 20. Thursday, April 30 1:30 p.m. A Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie, Top Hat, will be shown in Davidson Lounge. Come see this classic 1930 s dance musical for the first time or to enjoy yet again. Wednesday, May 6 12:00 p.m. at SMCC for lunch. RSVP by April 30. The price of $16 includes a four course meal with appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert. Thursday, May 7 SAGE meeting at 1:00 p.m. in 2nd/3rd grade classroom above the church office. The annual 90 th Birthday Party will be held on Thursday, May 21. Those turning 90 this year and those over 90, will receive an invitation. If you don t receive one, it is because we don t know your age. Please call the church office and tell us. Those younger than 90 are encouraged to attend and celebrate with us. For those younger than 90, the cost is $10 for the lunch and birthday cake. Ninety year olds and their guest attend for free, so please RSVP and tell us you re coming. Page 3

4 PILGRIM LODGE AND STAR ISLAND We hope to give camperships of up to $100 per camper, depending on the number of applicants. The deadline for applying is May 1. Please contact Anne Fuehrer for more information. SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE The Committee organizes and facilitates the process for church members to receive financial support from The Scholarship fund for post secondary education. Awards are made through two funds: The General Scholarship fund, which includes six different bequests and gifts; and the Loretta Thompson Pond Scholarship Fund that was established by friends and family of Loretta. Each scholarship fund has specific criteria for applicants to qualify. It is a pleasure for the Committee to award the 2015 General Scholarship Funds to Scott Ayre, Casey Fournier, Rachel Lockwood, Lauren Magnuson, Barry Quinn and Hannah Skeffington. The 2015 recipient of the Loretta Thompson Pond Scholarship is Silas Zechman. Scholarship Sunday is May 3. We look forward to recognizing the recipients and wish them the best in their endeavors. We thank you, the congregation and donors, for the privilege of administering this wonderful program for our church. Scholarship Committee: Jeri Sides, Sally Sutton, Lee and Jane Taylor, Margaret Thibodeau and Cindy Maddox TICKETS, TICKETS, BUY YOUR TICKETS Sundays after worship, look for the table in Wright Pavilion with the tools and paint brushes where you can purchase your tickets for the Mission Trip 2015 Fundraiser! This is the dinner and auction on Saturday, May 9 at 5:00 p.m. in Guptill Hall. Meal choices are chicken or eggplant parmesan served with spaghetti, salad and homemade cake for dessert. The cost is $8.00/person or $24.00/family. Following dinner, enjoy a wonderful auction with fantastic items to bid on homemade pie, artwork, meals, vacations and more! Hope to see you there. Open to members, friends and guests. Contact Cindy for more information, clm@fccucc.org. GREETINGS FROM THE GAME ROOM COMMITTEE! We are a sub-group from the Dream Initiative, who have been charged with creating a new game room for our church youth. This will be geared primarily for Grades K-8. So, how can you help? We are in need of many things to get started and are currently taking donations for used board games, card games and legos. We ask that games have all pieces and directions included if possible. Larger items that are also needed include bookshelves, bean bags, a TV console and a 30 inch flat screen TV (or bigger). Does anyone have an old Wii or Xbox they are no longer using? We'd love to include this in a game room as well. Donations can be dropped off anytime at the church office or you can contact any member of the Game Room committee and we will gladly coordinate pick up. Thank you for your help! ~ Leigh Ann Higgins, Jess Proctor, Elizabeth Scifres, Jen Pringle, Judith Borelli, Alex Ratta Page 4

5 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 301 Cottage Road South Portland, ME (207) Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Portland, ME Permit No. 944 Post Office Time Sensitive Newsletter CHILDREN S MUSEUM & THEATRE OF MAINE We are happy to announce that our church now has a membership pass to the Children s Museum & Theatre! Church members may use this pass for free admission to the Museum for up to six people (in one group) per day. Please call or stop by the Church Office to reserve the date that you would like to visit the Museum and we will issue a pass. For information about Museum activities and hours, visit the Museum web site at